The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan Summary

The Three Lives of Cate Kay follows a mysterious bestselling author who has written under a pen name, and the story reveals the truth behind her hidden identities and past. The novel is a character-driven exploration of self-discovery, second chances, and queer love, structured as a fictional memoir that uncovers why Annie—the woman behind Cate Kay—has lived multiple lives. Through complex relationships and unexpected revelations, the book examines themes of identity, authenticity, and the courage to embrace one's true self.

Kate Fagan is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and #1 New York Times bestselling author who transitioned from sports journalism to fiction writing. Before writing The Three Lives of Cate Kay, she authored three non-fiction books including What Made Maddy Run, which became a bestseller and was a semifinalist for the PEN/ESPN Award. Fagan spent seven years at ESPN as a columnist and commentator, and as a former professional basketball player at the University of Colorado, she brings unique perspectives on identity and authenticity to her storytelling.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is worth reading if you enjoy character-driven stories with LGBTQ+ representation and themes of identity and self-discovery. Selected as Reese's Book Club's January 2025 pick, the novel offers compelling characters, multi-layered love stories, and thought-provoking exploration of second chances. However, reader opinions are divided—with some praising its emotional depth and intrigue, while others find the plot contrived and the comparison to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo misleading. The book works best for readers seeking queer romance and personal transformation narratives rather than fast-paced mystery thrillers.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is ideal for readers who enjoy women's fiction, queer romance, and character-driven narratives exploring identity and self-discovery. Fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid's fictional memoir style—particularly The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo—will appreciate the storytelling approach, though the comparison has sparked mixed reactions. The book suits readers interested in LGBTQ+ love stories, complex female characters navigating authenticity, and emotional journeys that prompt reflection on personal choices. It's less suitable for those seeking fast-paced mysteries or thrillers, as the focus centers on internal transformation rather than external suspense.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay centers on Annie, the woman behind the Cate Kay pseudonym, and her love interest Ryan, a star from The Very Last films. Key supporting characters include Amanda (Ryan's complex romantic interest), Kerri (Amanda's sister), Patricia (Annie's neglectful yet redeemable mother), and Sidney (Annie's controlling partner who serves as an antagonist). Each character represents different aspects of Annie's journey toward authenticity, with Ryan and Amanda providing the most compelling relationship dynamics. The characters drive the narrative's exploration of identity, love, and the courage to break free from controlling influences.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay shares The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo's fictional memoir format and focus on a mysterious author revealing her hidden past. Both novels explore identity, LGBTQ+ love stories, and the gap between public personas and private truths through character-driven narratives. However, many readers feel the comparison sets unrealistic expectations—Cate Kay's story lacks the epic scope and believability that made Evelyn Hugo compelling. While Evelyn Hugo creates an authentic Hollywood legend, some readers found Cate Kay's character less convincing and her fame less justified within the story's world.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay employs a fictional memoir structure that mimics Taylor Jenkins Reid's narrative approach, telling Annie's story through the lens of revealing Cate Kay's true identity. The novel includes footnotes throughout—a stylistic choice that divided readers, with some finding them distracting and others appreciating the added context. Fagan's sports journalism background brings clear, accessible prose to the character-driven narrative, focusing on emotional depth and relationship dynamics rather than plot complexity. The storytelling balances present-day revelations with past events, though some readers wished for deeper investigation into key plot points.

The primary criticism of The Three Lives of Cate Kay centers on a contrived central conflict that could have been resolved through simple internet research or conversation. Readers found some characters, particularly Sidney, felt like caricatures rather than fully developed people, making sections feel clichéd. The comparison to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo disappointed many who expected similar quality, with reviewers noting Cate Kay lacked believability as a famous author. Additionally, the relationship between Annie and Ryan felt shallow to some readers, built on only a month together before a years-long falling-out over miscommunication. The marketing raised expectations that the book couldn't fully meet.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay explores identity and authenticity as Annie navigates three different personas while searching for her true self. The novel examines second chances and self-discovery, questioning whether we can reinvent ourselves and reclaim lost opportunities. LGBTQ+ identity and queer love form central themes, with multiple relationship dynamics showcasing different expressions of love and partnership. The book also addresses controlling relationships, family dysfunction through Patricia's neglectful parenting, and the courage required to break free from others' narratives to uncover personal truth. These themes interweave to create a meditation on living authentically versus hiding behind constructed identities.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay was selected as Reese's Book Club's January 2025 pick, aligning with Reese Witherspoon's focus on character-driven stories featuring complex women. The novel's exploration of identity, authenticity, and a woman reclaiming her narrative fits the book club's mission of amplifying female-centered stories. Kate Fagan's transition from Emmy-winning sports journalist and New York Times bestselling non-fiction author to fiction writing added compelling appeal. The LGBTQ+ representation and multi-layered love stories offer inclusive storytelling that resonates with contemporary readers seeking diverse perspectives. The book's themes of self-discovery and second chances provide rich discussion material for book club conversations.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay is entirely fictional, though it's written in a fictional memoir style that can create confusion about its authenticity. Kate Fagan crafted the story as a novel exploring invented characters and situations, marking her debut in fiction after establishing her career in sports journalism and non-fiction writing. Some readers initially thought they had accidentally purchased a memoir rather than fiction due to the convincing narrative structure. While Fagan's previous books like What Made Maddy Run examined real people and events, The Three Lives of Cate Kay represents her creative imagination exploring themes of identity and transformation through completely fabricated characters and scenarios.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay marks Kate Fagan's first fiction novel after writing three non-fiction books focused on sports and personal narratives. Her previous works, including the #1 New York Times bestseller What Made Maddy Run about athlete Madison Holleran and The Reappearing Act chronicling her own coming-out experience, were rooted in true stories. This novel allows Fagan creative freedom to explore LGBTQ+ identity and relationships through invented characters rather than real people. While her journalism background brings clear storytelling to the fiction, the shift from reporting facts to crafting imagined lives represents a significant evolution in her writing career. The fictional memoir format bridges her non-fiction experience with pure creative storytelling.